The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1887-02-09
IN A CAVE Oh GOLD.
~ l'cwtlderins Story OF lost Riches
Which We're Searched For
For Many Years

National park, where rise the towering
peaks Of the Snow mountains, there has
long lived man known rs "Thc
Wandrrcr." This man has never had,
in the many years lie has been known
TO The hunters and trappcrs Of the region,
any settled habtation, but has wandered
backward and forward through tbs
Snow mountains, apparently ever on
the search for something. Scattered
through the mountains lie has several
rude lnlts in which he sojourncd for Il
few days at 4 time, only to take up
again the weary circle Of his endless
search. by the men Of rifle and trap he
has long been considered crazy, and The
Indians Of tho section have evidently
thought tho same OF him, and, with the
well-known pity entertained by tho rcd
tribes for those mentally afflicted by the
Great Spirit, have never molcstcd him
in any way. From IL hunter and
trappcr of the Snow mountains, who
was IN Laramie Il few days ago, The
scribe learned OF The "Wandcrer'sn
singular life and Of his death, which
took place some two months ago. The
old man was found in one Of his
numerous haltng places by Il party cI
hunters several days after his wander
ings had ceased forever.
An examination Of the papers OH his
person showed that his had been Il
madness full Of method, and revealed a
tale before which the story Of Ali Baba
and The robbers cave palcs into
nsisnillcancc. The old man, whose
name was ascortaincd to be Arthur
l'cthanny, though he had probably not
heard il called for Il score Of years,
came TO the Snow mountains about
twenty-five years ago III the prime and
vigor OF a youthful manhood. a native
Of Pennsylvania, his youthful blood had
been fired by accounts Of the great
West, and he had started for the new
country, joining an exploring and hunt
ing party atSt. Louis. The party penc-
tratcd into Wyoming. passed through
the Big Horn basin, and III the lato fall
Of 1861 found themselves Oh the head
waters Of the Clarke fork Of the Y -cllow-
stone. Following up the Clarke fork
they soon came upon the cannon Of the
stream, and, entering it, passed through
and came out among tho mountains in
the confines Of the great National park.
Here they nlauguratcd grand hunt
among the mountain game they found
SO plentiful. One day l,cthanny
wandered away from the party in pur-
suit of Il bear he had wounded, and
followed the trail into the Snow noun
tams Ina deep and rocky gorge he
ran his game to earth, and saw him
enter an opening in the side of the
gorge. approaching the opening he
saw that II must lead into Il cavern of
considerable extent, and at once boldly
followed the game. lie soon found the
bear, just dead from its wounds
But where did he find it? In The
midst OF 4 scene of dazzling splcndor.
The entire interior Of the cavern was a
mass OF virgin gold studded with
dazzling gems. From seams overhead
thcrc came only a small amount or light
and in The scm-obscurity The gems
| gave forth luminous rays and the pure
orc filled the cavern With Il golden
sheen. Scarcely ablo to bclieye The
evidence Of his senses, Bethany
examined the precious stones OF the
cavern at first with fear and trembling,
and then with the widest transports of
JOY In the narrow, rocky seams which
traycrscd the golden mass Of the cavern
walls lo recognized tho diamonds
brilliant white, tllc red flame Of the
ruby and the flashes Of beautiful blush
green peculiar to the turquoise. With
head in a wllirl and heart beating
tilmultuously, Bethany left the
gorgeous cavern to tell his comrades Of
his extraordinary discovery, for there
were enough riches there to make them
all Rothschilds. But scarcely had he
emerged from the cavern when lie
found himself cnvcloped in q sudden
and whrling mountain snow storm. In
vain he tried again to find tho cavern
entrance, and in his search he must
have wandered far away from the
locality. All night the storm ragged,
and when morning broke, cold and
gray, he found that lie was hopclcssly
lost. Tho snow covered the ground to
a depth Of many inches, and he could
neither find the cave nor his way back
to his companions. TO be brief, he
passed tho long winter amid the deep
mountain SHOWS, and when spring camc
| at last he renewed his search for the